No. 10 Virginia Baseball Defeats No. 7 Florida State in Series Opener

Norfolk State wins in 10 innings, but Old Dominion, William & Mary and Christopher Newport lose.

Apr. 3, 2026 at 5:36am

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A fragmented, geometric painting depicting the dynamic movements and energy of a college baseball game, with sharp planes of navy, orange, and white colors creating an abstract, deconstructed visual.A cubist interpretation of the intense action and competition of a top-10 college baseball matchup.Virginia Beach Today

The No. 10 Virginia baseball team held off No. 7 Florida State 4-3 in the series opener at Disharoon Park in Charlottesville. UVA plated all four of its runs in the fourth inning, highlighted by a two-run home run from Antonio Perrotta, and the bullpen pitched four shutout frames to secure the victory.

Why it matters

This win over a highly ranked conference opponent is an important early-season victory for the No. 10 Cavaliers as they look to make a push in the ACC standings. Meanwhile, several other local college baseball teams suffered losses, underscoring the competitive nature of the spring season.

The details

UVA starter Kyle Johnson pitched four scoreless innings with a season-high seven strikeouts, but was dealt a no-decision. Reliever Henry Zatkowski picked up the win by allowing three unearned runs in three innings. Jake Weatherspoon led the Cavaliers with a 3-for-4 game, while Perrotta and Joe Tiroly each went 2 for 4 with an extra-base hit.

  • The series opener was played on Thursday, April 3, 2026 at Disharoon Park in Charlottesville.

The players

Antonio Perrotta

A UVA player who hit a two-run home run in the fourth inning to highlight the Cavaliers' scoring.

Kyle Johnson

The UVA starting pitcher who threw four scoreless innings with a season-high seven strikeouts.

Henry Zatkowski

The UVA relief pitcher who picked up the win by allowing three unearned runs in three innings.

Jake Weatherspoon

The UVA player who led the team with a 3-for-4 performance at the plate.

Joe Tiroly

A UVA player who went 2 for 4 with an extra-base hit.

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The takeaway

This victory over a top-10 conference opponent demonstrates the strength of the No. 10 Virginia baseball team and their ability to win close games against elite competition. The Cavaliers will look to build on this momentum as they continue their ACC schedule.